Picking .22 LR Match Ammunition

by
posted on August 24, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
22lrchoices1.jpg
To determine the best .22 LR match ammunition for your rifle, purchase one or two boxes of the ammunition brands and quality levels you wish to examine. Research online, as ammo manufacturers have plenty of information (especially muzzle velocity) that you can use to pinpoint the specific .22 LR match ammunition characteristics you are looking for.

Next, go to the the local rifle range on a clear, calm day and set up a suitable target at 50 yards. Shoot from a bench using a solid rest. Fire five fouling shots first, then begin your record strings. Take your time and make each shot count. Fire at least five groups of five shots each, then measure the extreme spread of each group and average the results (add them together then divide by five). Clean the bore of your rifle thoroughly and repeat the process with other brands and/or loads. After you identify one or two brands which are superior, retest only using those.

Once you have identified the brand and load your rifle prefers, conduct similar tests with different lot numbers from the selected load to determine which works best. Prudent competitors then purchase ammunition from that lot in quantity to assure a future supply.
Learn about how .22 LR cartridges are made

Latest

ARC Practicalbenefits Lambkyle 1A
ARC Practicalbenefits Lambkyle 1A

NRA America’s Rifle Challenge: Kyle Lamb on the Practical Benefits of Competition

Kyle Lamb explains why competition is the best test of gear and skill, then demonstrates a strong-to-support-side rifle transition on the ARC barricade.

Real Avid Bundles The AR Workbench Into One Box With New Master Collections

Real Avid launches bundled AR-15 and AR-10 Master Collection toolkits that scale from cleaning basics to full armorer setups, with prices ranging from $519 to $2,542.

Ole Miss Wins First NCAA Smallbore Rifle Team Title

Ole Miss rifle wins first NCAA smallbore title at 2026 NCAA rifle championship at Ohio State’s Covelli Center on Friday, March 13.

Gator Cup Returns to Back Woods Quail Club with Beretta DT11 Giveaway

The 2026 Gator Cup at Back Woods Quail Club in South Carolina runs March 24-29, featuring eight events, guaranteed payouts and a Beretta DT11 giveaway.

New: Springfield Armory XD Mod.4 OSP

Springfield Armory’s XD Mod.4 OSP is a 9 mm striker-fired pistol with a factory-milled optics-ready slide, flat-face trigger and passive grip safety, shipping in 16-round and 10-round configurations at $399.

Mark The Milestone: Federal’s America 250th Commemorative Loads Have Arrived

Federal Ammunition’s America 250th commemorative line is shipping now with five loads across the American Eagle, Top Gun and Champion families, priced from $12.99 to $74.99.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.